Kerala - Kochi   

Call to lift ban on rice export

KOCHI: The Kalady Rice Millers Consortium, a cluster of about 40 rice millers functioning at Kalady near Kochi, wants the Centre to lift the ban on export of matta (brown variety) rice. Continuation of the ban will be counter productive, the millers said.

A ban on rice export was imposed in the wake of a shortage of rice in the domestic market. The government has decided to lift the ban only in the case of basmati rice variety.

With a promising harvest, there will be surplus of rice in the market, according to the millers.

On the other hand, continuation of the ban would have a multiple impact, said N.P. Antony, managing director of the consortium.

Consumption of matta rice is high among Malayalis. It is difficult for many of them to change the culinary habit in a short span of time.

Thus, the non-availability of matta rice in the Gulf and European countries has been a concern among Malayalees there, Mr. Antony told The Hindu.

If the matta-consuming NRI population switches over to other varieties, it will be a loss to the export oriented units in Kerala. Already the export market of matta rice is being cornered by rice varieties from Pakistan, Bangladesh and China.

This apart, the farmers would get better price if the commodity is exported, Mr. Antony said.

The rice mills in Kerala process around 2,000 metric tonnes of matta rice every day. On an average, only 3-4 per cent of this quantity, valued at around $1 million is exported annually.

The spurt in domestic price of rice in the State can’t be attributed to exports alone. Poor infrastructure and the resultant low yield, coupled with the shrinkage in area of cultivation are the main reasons behind the situation.

Over the years, traditional paddy farming activity has undergone rapid changes.

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